StratNews Global

The deadlock among members of OPEC+, the bloc of 23 oil-producing countries, over a deal on increasing output has led to a crude shock, quite literally. As uncertainty prevailed, oil prices rose. As the UAE insisted that its output quota be revised upwards, Saudi Arabia—the largest oil producer in the group—and Russia didn’t agree. In this podcast with StratNews Global, energy economist Anas Alhajji explains the nub of the discord, what it means for the oil market and why despite being a votary of free-market economics he strongly believes the oil market has to be managed. Tune in for more.

Podcast Producer: Manas R. Tarai 

The recent insistence by German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the European Union (EU) should have a face-to-face summit meeting with President Putin has raised questions as to whether the main EU nations – Germany and France – are softening their stance towards Russia. If so, what would that mean for both Brussels and Moscow? In this interview Professor Bhaswati Sarkar, Centre of European Studies, JNU tells Ashwin Ahmad that France and Germany’s stance is nothing new. On France’s side, President Macron has made continued visits to Russia even during the pandemic while Germany conscious of its economic interests has constantly made sure to include Moscow and  Beijing in its foreign policy calculus. On Russia’s side, Professor Sarkar points out that while Moscow would certainly want an easing of sanctions, Putin, unlike former Russian president Boris Yeltsin, is no Europhile. He believes that trade and other matters with Brussels can only be taken forward through mutual respect and lack of interference in its internal affairs. This is something the EU will not be able to comply with ensuring that the relations ‘reset’ desired by both German and France will continue to be an issue that will divide an already fractured EU.

Podcast Producer - Manas R. Tarai 

Singapore is changing the narrative or at least attempting to, when it comes to dealing,  rather living, with Covid-19. The city-state with a population of under six million has distinct advantages such as aggressive contact tracing and a speedy vaccination rate (it intends to inoculate two-thirds of its population by August 9, its national day). Can the model be replicated in India? Absolutely not,  says Dr Giridhara R Babu, Professor and Head, Life Course Epidemiology at the Public  Health Foundation of India. “The plan is at one extreme, expecting the disease to be endemic. On the other extreme are countries that have shut borders not allowing anyone else and they are aiming at elimination. I don’t think extremes are the mainstays of Covid-19 response. We will have to take a middle path which is cautious as well as follows some public health measures,” he told  StratNews Global. Listen in for more.

Podcast Producer :  Manas R. Tarai than 

The Biden administration may be looking to return to the  JCPOA deal, but some observers feel that the recent measures applied by  Washington will backfire. Former ambassador and the Middle East authority  KP Fabian tells Ashwin Ahmad that the recent “taking down” of Iranian websites by the US along with the continuation of Trump’s sanctions on  Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi has emboldened Iran’s hardliners and ensured Iranians will back him regardless of his standing at home.  Fabian also points out that such actions will push Iran even closer to  Russia and China something that was already slated to be on the anvil during the Raisi era. Such a coalition, if it does fructify, could be bad news for India especially in Afghanistan and the region. Internally,  too a growing China-Iran partnership could ensure that Beijing will make sure that India does not get advantageous areas in Iran to invest.

Podcast Producer : Manas R. Tarai

Apple Daily, Hong Kong’s largest-selling pro-democracy newspaper closed down on Thursday. Authorities made sure the 26-year-old tabloid couldn’t pay its journalists; many of the top editorial staff have been arrested. Its founder Jimmy Lai is already behind bars. All this under the provisions of the draconian National Security Law that was clamped by Beijing last year. The government conducted an incredibly harsh campaign against our journalists, says Mark Simon, adviser to Jimmy Lai. Xi Jinping is determined to end press freedom, Simon told StratNews Global. Listen in for more.

Podcast Producer :Manas R. Tarai 

Competition is growing between India and China to win  over Africa both on the economic level. The launching of the African  Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in January this year – the largest  free trade area in the world – has seen both nations increase high-level  visits, lines of credit and investments to the continent. However, as  former ambassador and Africa expert Anil Trigunayat points out, India  must remain conscious of its security concerns too especially with  regard to East Africa. In an interview with Ashwin Ahmad the ambassador  points out China’s strong naval presence in the Horn of Africa and its  reported bid to set up naval bases in other East African countries  ensures that India must also look up to step up its maritime presence  preferably in concert with other countries such as France who have key  interests in Africa. This is necessary if maritime lines are to be  secured in the Indian Ocean.

Podcast Producer : Manas R. Tarai

More than four months since the military seized power in  Myanmar, there has been no let-up in protests despite a brutal crackdown by the junta. There’s a sense of loss now, a sense of shock among the people who had thought there would be continuity after Aung  San Suu Kyi’s party NLD won a thumping majority in the elections last year, says Ben Dunant, Editor-at-large of 'Frontier Myanmar', a  Yangon-based news magazine. The junta relies on robust support from  China and Russia, and the military feels a strong entitlement to rule,  he told StratNews Global. On the raft of charges against Suu Kyi, he said the military intends to get her out of the picture so that it could rule through its proxy party under a multi-party democracy. But the  'military’s thinking is flawed' as protests haven’t died down even though she has been under arrest. Listen in for more.

Podcast Producer :Manas R. Tarai

The coming of the Biden administration has laid focus on the JCPOA and a possible deal emerging post the Vienna talks. Speaking to Ashwin Ahmad, Kabir Taneja, Fellow at the ORF and West Asia expert believes that both sides want a deal and that is something that is not likely to change even if a conservative candidate should emerge as president post the Iranian elections. Having said this, he points out that the US will be more than aware that any resumption of the deal could lead to increased funding to Iran’s proxies and will be looking to balance that. Coming to China, Taneja says much of the noise about the  China-Iran strategic partnership has come from Tehran rather than  Beijing and both sides remain wary of the other. India should learn from the Chinese example, ensure the resumption of Iranian oil, and not be in any rush to strike new deals with Tehran.

Podcast Producer : Manas R. Tarai

More than four months after the military coup in Myanmar, the spiral of protests, violence, and deaths continue. The five-point consensus plan agreed upon by the 10-nation bloc ASEAN has gone nowhere with the Myanmarese junta dragging its feet over it on the pretext that conditions are not suitable. China, which has strategic and business interests in Myanmar, has been trying to legitimize the junta, says Bridget Welsh, Honorary Research Associate with the University of Nottingham Asia Research Institute, Malaysia. Earlier, when Aung San Suu Kyi was in prison, India had managed to find a neutral position while being a neighbor to Myanmar, she told StratNews Global. India can play a pivotal role in Myanmar as having an unstable, brutal, and coercive regime on its borders is not in India’s interest, she added. Listen in for more.    

Podcast Producer : Manas R. Tarai

Israel and Israeli politics are in a state of flux as a  new coalition of parties seeks to come together to unseat Prime Minister  Benjamin Netanyahu from power. Though Netanyahu has time to take apart the coalition which will only be sworn in in a week’s time ‘Bibi fatigue’ may ensure that he may not be able to do so. In an interview with Ashwin Ahmad, Professor Colin Shindler emeritus professor at the  School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and author of a  prize-winning book on the Israeli Right states that even if Netanyahu manages to undermine the coalition, lack of support from the public, and more importantly from President Joe Biden, suggests that he faces a  tough road ahead. On the Israeli peace process, Professor Shindler contends that India with its good offices with both Israel and Palestine could certainly try and nudge the parties towards dialogue and even mediate. However, given recent events which have only exacerbated the growing social divides between Israelis and Palestinians, peace seems definitely off the table for now.

Podcast Producer: Manas R. Tarai